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FVSU Football Places Half Dozen Wildcats on All-SIAC Teams

11/14/2023 5:26:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
ATLANTA, Ga. – The Wildcats recorded another highly-successful fall campaign and a half dozen of their members received league honors for their efforts. Fort Valley State placed six members to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football teams as running back Brandon Marshall, offensive lineman Jemeil Jackson and punt/kick returner Dejuan Bell grabbed First Team acclaim, while kicker Daniel Gibbs, linebacker Malik Harp and defensive back Kamari Blankumsee received Second Team nods.
 
The half dozen Wildcats along with their teammates combined to again make one of the top SIAC squads under head coach Shawn Gibbs. FVSU went 7-3 for its second seven-plus win season in a row with losses coming to SIAC Champion Benedict College, SIAC Runner-up Albany State and Tuskegee for a combined 24-8 opponents' record.
 
Three FVSU offensive side of the ball members represent the team's All-SIAC First Team group of honoree led by SIAC Newcomer of the Year, Marshall. The graduate student added a punch in the offensive backfield and led the SIAC in rushing with a total of 893 yards on 193 carries for an 89.3-yard per game average. He carried the ball for 4.6 yards per tote and found the endzone eight times. He also pulled in 21 catches for 171 yards and another score.
 
The two-time SIAC Newcomer of the Week recorded four 100-plus yard rushing games. His top rushing total came with 187 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown along with two catches for 32 yards against Savannah State. He also ran for 140 yards on 28 attempts and two scores over Morehouse College. He added 115 yards on 21 carries with two scores at Kentucky State and rounded out the century-mark games with 104 yards on 23 carries against undefeated Benedict College. Marshall also missed a fifth 100-yard game with 90 yards on 12 carries and a score at Clark Atlanta. He netted at least 45 rushing yards in each of FVSU's 10 games on the year.
 
Clearing the way for another top league running back and protecting the FVSU quarterbacks, Jackson earned First Team status for the first time. The three-year Wildcat starter fulfilled the prediction of making the top team as he was voted to the Preseason First Team. The junior from Hampton, Ga., was part of the FVSU offensive line which allowed only 10 sacks in 10 games this season and averaged 320.6 yards of total offense per outing.
 
Bursting onto the scene with a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown in the season opener, Bell was the top return specialist in the SIAC. The graduate student finished with the SIAC's top kick return yards with 635, 2nd in number of kick returns with 27 and 2nd in average per return at 23.5 yards, but the average leader had 15 fewer return attempts. The North Augusta, S.C., product had two other kick returns for touchdowns called back due to penalty along with the longest return for a score in the SIAC against Tuskegee. He also had six games with at least 65 yards in kick returns with 5 for 111 yards versus EWU; 2 for 97 vs. Tuskegee; 2 for 65 at Clark Atlanta; 2 for 66 at Kentucky State; 5 for 84 at Benedict; and 2 for 73 vs. Virginia University Lynchburg.

Bell was also the top punter returner where he led the SIAC in punt return yards (152), punt returns (14) and punt return average of 10.9 per return. He finished with six games of 19+ yards of punt returns with one for a touchdown called back due to penalty.
As a wide receiver, Bell grabbed 15 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown.

Coming to The Valley, Gibbs helped solidify the FVSU kicking game this season on his way to All-SIAC Second Team honors. The junior from Bonaire, Ga., only missed one field goal through nine games this season before he finished 10 of 14 on the year including the longest field goal in recent years of 50 yards against Virginia University Lynchburg. The one time SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week connected on 38 of 39 point after attempts. He booted two field goals against both Edward Waters and Benedict. He also produced a 53.7-yard per kick-off average over 58 kicks.

Both Harp and Blankumsee paced the FVSU defense, which allowed only a league-low 77.7 yards rushing per contest, for their All-SIAC Second Team acclaim.

Harp, a junior from Orlando, Fla., led FVSU with 64 tackles (6.4 per game) and 13.5 tackles for loss. He completed his numbers with a sack, two interceptions, four pass breakups and six Quarterback Hurries over the 10 games. He recorded at least one tackle for loss in nine of the 10 games and had a season high 10 Tackles with 3.5 TFL and a sack at Kentucky State. The linebacker added nine tackles, a TFL and a QBH vs. Savannah State; 5 stops and 1.5 TFL at Benedict; 8 tackles, a TFL, an INT and a breakup at Allen; 6 TT and 2 TFL vs. EWU; 6 TT, 1.5 TFL and a breakup at CAU; 6 tackles, a breakup and 2 QBH vs. Albany State.

Making his presence felt as a true freshman, Blankumsee was a key and consistent defensive performer all season for the Wildcats. The Quitman, Ga., native finished third on team with 42 tackles (4.2 per game) from his strong safety spot. He completed the year with 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakup and a blocked kick. He posted at least 4-plus tackles in six of the team's games including 7 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss vs. Va. Lynchburg and another 7 stops and a breakup against Albany State. The defensive back added 6 tackles at Kentucky State and 6 stops, a TFL, a sack and an interception at Clark Atlanta and swiped two key interceptions with 4 tackles in the road win over Allen.

All six FVSU players will have one more opportunity to play this season. FVSU will face Johnson C. Smith University in the Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl on Wednesday night, Dec. 13, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
POSITION NAME SCHOOL CLASSIFICATION HOMETOWN
Offensive Line Roger Smith Benedict College Sophomore Cleveland, Ohio
Offensive Line Jemeil Jackson Fort Valley State University Junior Hampton, Georgia
Offensive Line Mitchell Romig Benedict College Graduate Jacksonville, Florida
Offensive Line Dylan Lampkin Edward Waters University Senior Jacksonville, Florida
Offensive Line Joshua Simon Albany State University Graduate Atlanta, Georgia
Offensive Line Ty Lowery Miles College Junior Evergreen, Alabama
Tight End Xavier Herndon Albany State University R-Freshman Norcross, Georgia
Tight End Travaunta Abner Miles College Junior Lanett, Alabama
Wide Receiver Johnny Jones Edward Waters University Sophomore Pahokee, Florida
Wide Receiver Nathan Rembert Edward Waters University Freshman Eustis, Florida
Running Back Brandon Marshall Fort Valley State University Graduate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Running Back Kylan Duhe Lane College R-Junior Edgard, Louisiana
Quarterback David Wright Allen University R-Sophomore Tampa, Florida
All-Purpose Offense Jaih Andrews  Miles College Junior Birmingham, Alabama
Defensive Line Loobert Denelus Benedict College Senior Naples, Florida
Defensive Line Jayden Broughton Benedict College Junior Monks Corner, South Carolina
Defensive Line Jeremiah Owens Kentucky State University Senior Greenville, Alabama
Defensive Line Jaren Wilson Edward Waters University Graduate Jacksonville, Florida
Linebacker Asmar Hasan Lane College Junior Atlanta, Georgia
Linebacker Malik Moore Tuskegee University Sophomore Tallahassee, Florida
Linebacker Widmyer Garçon Edward Waters University Junior North Lauderdale, Florida
Defensive Back Ja'Voni Melidor Benedict College Junior Columbia, South Carolina
Defensive Back Mikael King Tuskegee University Sophomore Tuskegee, Alabama
Defensive Back Jalen Mitchell Albany State University R-Junior Jacksonville, Florida
Defensive Back Deandre Creary Savannah State University Sophomore Marietta, Georgia
Kicker Tom Piccirillo Benedict College Graduate Findley, Ohio
Punter Gilbert Brown Albany State University Sophomore Richmond Hill, Georgia
Punt Returner DeJuan Bell Fort Valley State University Graduate North Augusta, South Carolina
Kick Returner DeJuan Bell Fort Valley State University Graduate North Augusta, South Carolina
All-Purpose Defense Ja'ron Kilpatrick Benedict College R-Senior Auburndale, Florida

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
POSITION NAME SCHOOL CLASSIFICATION HOMETOWN
Offensive Line KaTray Pringle Albany State University R-Senior St. George, South Carolina
Offensive Line Jamari Pierre Edward Waters University Sophomore Deerfield Beach, Florida
Offensive Line Eli Shareef Allen University Freshman Hampton, Georgia
Offensive Line Ahmed Brimah Albany State University Junior Jonesboro, Georgia
Offensive Line Damion Clark Tuskegee University Sophomore Snellville, Georgia
Tight End Colby Bell Morehouse  Sophomore Santa Monica, California
Wide Receiver Jacquez Jones Lane College Junior Orlando, Florida
Wide Receiver Antonio Meeks Tuskegee University Sophomore Lilburn, Georgia
Running Back Beau Herrington Allen University Junior Davenport, Florida
Running Back Deondra Duehart Benedict College Sophomore Macon, Georgia
Quarterback Jyron Russell Edward Waters University Graduate Grand Prairie, Texas
All-Purpose Offense Jaylin Peterson Miles College Junior Birmingham, Alabama
Defensive Line Jalen Pugh Albany State University R-Junior Jonesboro, Georgia
Defensive Line Ka'Darrion Jones Lane College Senior Donaldsville, Louisiana
Defensive Line Marques Sherman Allen University Senior Cincinnati, Ohio
Defensive Line James Gary Edward Waters University Senior Aliceville, Alabama
Defensive Line Jamichael Rogers Miles College Sophomore Bessemer, Alabama
Linebacker Malik Harp Fort Valley State University Junior Orlando, Florida
Linebacker Daylon Land Morehouse  Senior Benton, Arkansas
Linebacker Dedrick Starkes Benedict College Junior Columbia, South Carolina
Defensive Back Christian Ramsey Tuskegee University Junior Carrolton, Georgia
Defensive Back Kamari Blankumsee Fort Valley State University Freshman Quitman, Georgia
Defensive Back Dahlil Wilkins Allen University Senior Bamberg, South Carolina
Defensive Back Camron Ivey Clark Atlanta University Junior Atlanta, Georgia
Kicker Daniel Gibbs Fort Valley State University Junior Bonaire, Georgia
Punter Ryan Duff Tuskegee University Senior Mobile, Alabama
Punt Returner Rashad Jordan Albany State University R-Senior Atlanta, Georgia
Kick Returner Terrence Holland Lane College Freshman Jacksonville, Florida
All-Purpose Defense Aaron Miller Benedict College R-Senior Decatur, Georgia
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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